NCAAB

Wooden Watch: Kansas guard Frank Mason III out front

Scott Gleeson
USA TODAY Sports

Kansas coach Bill Self has tabbed senior guard Frank Mason III as the "most deserving player" he's ever coached to win the Wooden Award.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) motions to the crowd in overtime against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 84-80.

So it's little surprise that Mason has emerged as somewhat of a front-runner in this year's race for national player of the year. But there's still hardly a clear-cut favorite here in mid-February, as both Villanova's Josh Hart and Purdue's Caleb Swanigan could easily springboard ahead.

Here's a full look at the contenders:

1. Frank Mason III, Kansas

As freshman Josh Jackson blossoms, Mason III continues to anchor the Jayhawks. The veteran guard has been an elite catalyst all season. His numbers (20.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.3 rpg) are certainly impressive, but it's his leadership and clutch playmaking that helped him stay atop our rankings, while coinciding with Kansas' latest streak of close wins.

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2. Josh Hart, Villanova

The heart and soul of the defending national champs, Hart has spearheaded the Wildcats' offense this season to help them stay out front in the Big East standings and currently hold a projected No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. He's averaging 18.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.

3. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

The 6-9 sophomore big man has been a ferocious force for the Boilermakers, averaging monstrous numbers — 18.7 points and 13.0 rebounds a game. He's the reason why Purdue is near the top of the Big Ten race.

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4. Lonzo Ball, UCLA

The freshman 6-6 guard leads the nation in assists (7.6 apg), and scores when necessary, but the stat sheet doesn't tell the full story. Ball helps his talented teammates — Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, T.J. Leaf — thrive with his superb passing and playmaking abilities. If there's any player who is going to notch a triple-double in March, it's Ball.

5. Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

The Washington transfer is having an All-American season and the main reason why Mark Few's team still is without a loss. He's averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game for a team unlikely to lose anytime soon. Williams-Goss' 33 points in a Feb. 2 game against BYU highlight his takeover abilities.

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